GOVERNANCEECONOMYCROSS CUTTING CONNECTIVITY SOCIETY

PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN 2018

CROSS CUTTING DELIVERABLES

1. More engagement with civil society organisations

2. Increase gender equality and non-discrimination

3. Strengthen strategic communication and supporting plurality and independence of media

STRONGER ECONOMY

Economic development and market opportunities:

4. Improve the investment and business environmentand unlock Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’ (SMEs) growth potential

5. Address gaps in access to fi nance and fi nancial infrastructure

6. Create new job opportunitiesat the local and regional level

7. Harmonise digital markets

8. Support intra-regional trade among partner countries and the EU

STRONGER GOVERNANCE

Strengthening institutions and good governance:

9. Strengthen the rule of law and anti-corruption mechanisms

10. Support the implementation of key judicial reforms

11. Support the implementation of public administration reform

12. Stronger security cooperation

STRONGER CONNECTIVITY

Connectivity, energy effi ciency, environment and climate change:

13. Extend the TEN-T core networks, transport

14. Increase energy supply security

15. Enhance energy effi ciency and the use of renewable energy; reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions

16. Support the environmentand adaptation to climate change

STRONGER SOCIETY

Mobility and people-to-people contacts:

17. Progress on Visa Liberalisation Dialogues and Mobility Partnerships

18. Strengthen investment in young people’s skills, entrepreneurship and employability

19. Establish an Eastern Partnership European school

20. Integrate Eastern Partnership and EU researchand innovation systems and programmes

MODERATE PROGRESS:

ON TRACK: COMPLETED:| |

20 DELIVERABLES FOR 2020

#strongertogether

20 Deliverables for 2020: State of play in 2018

STRONGER ECONOMY

CROSS-CUTTING DELIVERABLES

Launched in 2009 as a joint policy initiative, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU), its Member States and its six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Within this framework, all partners agreed to deliver tangible benefi ts to the daily lives of their citizens by focusing on achieving 20 Deliverables for 2020.

The EU and partner countries’ cooperation features three cross-cutting issues: engagement with civil society, women’s empowerment and gender balance, and strategic communication. While progress has been achieved in the area of strengthening strategic communication, creating an enabling environment for civil society and independent media needs urgent attention.

ACHIEVED EaP citizens’ positive perception of the EU is increasing:

trust in the EU is higher than ever, with 61% of citizens

considering the EU as the most trustworthy foreign

institution

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE • Creating an enabling environment for civil society

• Supporting pluralism and independent media

• Ensuring gender equality and non-discrimination

ACHIEVED More than 50% of the EU’s loans to SMEs are now in local

currency

Increase in trade between all six partner countries and the

EU since 2016: by 15% with Armenia, 17% with Azerbaijan,

19% with Belarus, 6% with Georgia, 20% with Republic of

Moldova, and 24% with Ukraine

Consensus on a perspective for a roaming agreement for

the region by 2020

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE • Ensuring commitments to harmonise digital markets are

effectively implemented

• Strengthen intra-regional trade

Building economic resilience is at the heart of the EU’s cooperation with EaP countries. The focus is on working together to develop stronger, diversifi ed and vibrant economies. Signifi cant progress has been made to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) grow; to attract investments; to create jobs in new sectors; and to increase trade opportunities by supporting access to new markets.

STRONGER CONNECTIVITY

STRONGER SOCIETY

STRONGER GOVERNANCE

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE • Strengthening the rule of law

• Implementing key judicial reforms and reinforcing public

administration

• Strengthening security cooperation, notably to tackle

organised crime, support confl ict resolution, and protect

against new threats and cybersecurity

Scaling-up efforts in the area of strengthening institutions and good governance is a top priority for the EU in the EaP countries where challenges remain. In particular, more efforts need to be made in the rule of law, implementing key judicial reforms, and in the fi ght against corruption. These are the preconditions for citizens’ trust in the state, long-term stability and an investment-safe climate.

ACHIEVED E-asset declarations systems set up in Armenia, Georgia,

Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

Improvements in civil service laws paved the way towards

a more depoliticised civil service in Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

ACHIEVED The indicative TEN-T Investment Action Plan fi nalised,

foreseeing the development of approximately 5,500

kilometres of roads and railways across the region by 2020

and an additional 4,600 kilometres by 2030

The recent inauguration of the Azerbaijan – Georgia section

of the Southern Gas Corridor strengthens common energy

security

High-level energy effi ciency initiative between the EU and

International Financial Institutions has led to improved

legislation and investments to reach more people,

municipalities and SMEs to help cut energy bills, and

improve standards

The EU’s work with partner countries to improve transport links and infrastructure, boost energy resilience and effi ciency, as well as the use of renewable energy to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions has resulted in signifi cant progress. Continuing to invest in these areas will lead to greater sustainable economic development and concrete benefi ts to the lives of citizens by reducing energy dependence and consumption.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE • Further reduction of CO2 emissions and setting up

effective national emissions monitoring

• Stepping up action on biodiversity protection and

sustainable forestry

ACHIEVED

The fi rst Eastern Partnership European School was

launched in Tbilisi

Since 2014, more than 30,000 young people have taken

part in exchanges, mobility and volunteering through

Erasmus+

The EU4Youth programme is actively supporting the

employability and entrepreneurship of around 23,000

young people in partner countries, and 200 Young European Ambassadors are fostering cooperation with

youth organisations across the EU and the partner

countries

All partner countries have full access to Horizon 2020

The EU and six Eastern partners have invested in young people’s skills, entrepreneurship and employability, including by developing education policies.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE • Continuing to monitor progress of Mobility Partnerships

• Improving quality and relevance of education systems,

modernising teaching methods and reinforcing

employability of graduates